Weekly Newsletter #10 - 6 April 2022
Reflection
Palm Sunday Reflection - Michael McGirr
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. The following reflection, by Michael McGirr explores what this day and the commencement of Holy Week may mean in the lives of Christians today.
This cup came with a guarantee that it can keep your drink either hot or cold. It reminds us of the mob in the time of Jesus. On Palm Sunday they were hot. By Good Friday they were cold. On Sunday they were calling “Hosanna!” On Friday they were shouting “Crucify him!” What happened in such a short time? One answer is that it was becoming clear to their so-called leaders what Jesus was really on about. People who were used to creating fear were themselves becoming afraid. Jesus was a threat to those in power.
We all run hot and cold. We have to accept ourselves as human beings and know our limitations. We all know fear. Holy Week reminds us that faith is a long story, not just a week. We walk with Jesus (from a Christians perspective) in good times and bad. Some days it feels like people are laying down cloaks to make the way easier. Other days it feels like we are being stripped bare.
Let us pray...
Loving God, May we enter the commemoration of Holy Week
with still and open hearts.
May we not be carried away by the mob,
But find our footing on you, our rock,
who is there with us in all seasons, and all weather.
Amen
- McGirr, M (2021) This Cup We Bless - A tea or coffee break for every day during Lent. Garrett Publishing: Mulgrave
From the Executive Director
As we come to the end of Term 1, it is timely that I thank you for your ongoing resilience and adaptability as we all do our best to provide high standards of education and support admidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
I hope and pray that you will all enjoy a very well earned break over our Easter season. Easter begins as a time of great trial and suffering culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus and emerges as a time of great joy and hope as we celebrate the resurrection.
Last Friday, Pope Francis led the Catholic world in a global prayer for the people of Ukraine and Russia. Our Diocese joined in with this global prayer - as reported by international news agency Reuters; “... At about the same time, thousands of bishops in cathedrals and chapels around the world were reading the same prayer in local languages, resulting in one of the most precisely coordinated global Church events in living memory.”
I urge our Diocesan Education Community to continue praying for the people of Ukraine and to explore practical ways to support Ukrainians suffering and displaced by this unjust war, so that one day they too may find joy and hope in their lives.
I would like to once again publicly acknowledge the long and dedicated career of Cathy Dunbar, my Executive Assistant. Cathy started work for Catholic Education Ballarat in 1978 and finishes up on 22nd April, a remarkable career in Catholic Education. I welcome Kerrie Zammit as my new Executive Assistant. Kerrie commenced work with us on Monday.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
Sister Tricia Vagg - RIP
Yesterday, the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & Papua New Guinea notified us of the news of the passing of Sister Tricia Vagg.
"Sister Tricia Vagg died peacefully last night at St John of God Hospital, Ballarat. Throughout the day Tricia was accompanied by her much loved sister Marie and members of her family.
We remember Tricia’s ministry contributions over the years as a dedicated teacher, principal and pastoral worker in Ballarat and the Western District. She taught at Ballarat North, Edenhope, Wycheproof, Birchip and Ballarat East.
The funeral for Tricia will be held at St Alipius’ Church, Ballarat East on Friday, 8th April, 2022 at 11am.
The funeral will be livestreamed and details will be available from Pat Cashin Funerals later in the week.
Tricia, a woman of Mercy, is now gently held in the loving embrace of her God."
Staffing for Term 2 Update
Cathy Dunbar.
Cathy has been the voice on the other end of the phone at the Catholic Education Office in Ballarat for the past 37 years. Across our Diocese, Cathy has been a friendly and caring support, always willing to help out in whatever way she can. Cathy concludes her current role as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director on Friday, 22nd April. As a Catholic Education system, we thank Cathy, applaud her work and wish her God’s blessings for this next stage of life.
We wish Cathy, and her husband, Chris, a long and fruitful retirement and she goes with our sincere thanks for an incredible contribution to Catholic Education over many years.
We have warmly welcomed Kerrie Zammit who has taken over this important role.
Education Consultants.
Our heartfelt thanks goes to Eugene Dalton who has been supporting our Southern Zone schools during Term 1 to allow Lee Schlooz to work with Central Zone schools. We farewell Eugene who came out of retirement to support the Southern Zone Principals over the last three terms. We acknowledge Eugene’s wise and pastoral support and wish him well. Both Eugene and Lee, together with Murray Macdonald in the Northern Zone, have been pivotal in supporting Principals during what has been a challenging start to the new year.
Lee Schoolz has also continued his wonderful support of Catholic Education. Lee moved from the Southern Zone into support of Central Zone Principals for the past nine months and we thank and acknowledge Lee as he resumes his role in the south from the start of next term.
We congratulate Jo-Anne Bond as she concludes at Emmaus Catholic Primary School and assumes the role of Central Zone Educational Consultant from the start of next term. Jo-Anne’s exemplary service as a principal across the Diocese, most recently at Emmaus, will be a great asset to the support offered to schools from the start of next term.
Janet Claassen will also commence the new role of Mid-North Zone Education Consultant. Janet joins us from an equivalent role in the Sandhurst Diocese and we look forward to welcoming her from the start of next term.
Acting Team Leader: Teaching and Learning.
Sue Paulka is taking Long Service Leave for six weeks from the beginning of Term 2, and we are fortunate to have Sam Meerbach willing to take on the role of Acting Team Leader: Teaching and Learning during her absence. We wish Sue well for a refreshing break.
Psychologist.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Carmen Jewell to the position of Psychologist within the Wellbeing Team. Carmen will be working two days per week out of the Mildura office and comes to us from the position of Senior Psychologist with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NSW.
Catholic Education Update
Caritas Australia - Project Compassion: For All Future Generations.
Caritas thanks everyone for the wonderful fundraising and prayer support that has taken place in your schools this term during Lent.
It is an expression of hope and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come.
It is a reminder that when we work together, we can make the world a better place for all.
Please forward your donations to Caritas Australia Project Compassion Diocesan Account.
BSB: 062 217
Account number: 10471471
Remember to use your Support ID Number. Please contact Diocesan Director: Jillian Hogbin at caritas@ballarat.catholic.org.au if you wish to confirm the ID support number for your school.
Learning and Teaching.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Review Action Team.
Expressions of interest are sought from school principals and/or school staff members for membership of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Review Action Team. There is capacity for 2 school-based representatives.
This team will be responsible for:
- Using wide and appropriate consultative processes to develop a Diocesan-wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan which articulates the Diocesan vision and principles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and employment, including specific outcomes with a strong data focus.
- Making recommendations as to how the Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan can be promoted and enacted in schools and CEB.
- Developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for CEB.
Please see the Terms of Reference for further information.
Expressions of interest can be forwarded to Jeanette Morris (jmorris@dobcel.catholic.edu.au) by Thursday April 7th.
Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program Funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students.
The Opening the Doors Foundation has launched the "Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program" in response to the immense social and emotional stress on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through financial grants, the program aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students participating in immersion experiences and specific camps that are organised through their school. This funding is separate to the regular Foundation grants (books, uniforms, etc.) and closes on 31 May 2022.
Please refer to the SEWP Application for further information or by contacting the Foundation on 0401 487 414 or enquiries@openingthedoors.org.au
Professional Learning Opportunities.
Professional Learning for Primary Leaders of Learning with Matt Sexton; Director of the Mathematics Teaching and Learning Centre at ACU.
This professional learning program will support primary leaders of curriculum to develop their skills related to:
- Driving change
- Building relational trust
- Using effective meeting protocols
We then invite you to complete this survey by Friday 8th April. The data will be used to support the planning for the day.
Dates: 13th May 9:15am - 3:30pm and Webinar chat 9th June 4:00pm - 5:00pm
EMU Ongoing with Associate Professor Ann Gervasoni.
These 2 days of connected Professional Learning will be held in Ballarat on Monday 23rd May and Monday 20th June.
The 2 days of EMU Ongoing Professional learning are designed to improve student outcomes and build EMU teacher / leader/ classroom teacher capability. The days will be facilitated by Associate Professor Ann Gervasoni (Monash University), with a focus on catering for all students in their Zone of Proximal Development.
People & Development Update
Compliance training – New online compliance training platform.
The CCI Learning Manager Platform for compliance training has now been decommissioned.
DOBCEL’s new, alternate online compliance training platform delivered by GRC Solutions is called Salt.
The transition to the new Salt platform is progressing to plan with a go live date aligning to the start of Term Two. DOBCEL employees will receive a “Welcome to Salt” email soon with details of how-to login in for the first-time.
Revised compliance training cycle.
We are introducing a revised compliance training cycle (please view via this link) with most courses being repeated only once every three years for better balance in meeting compliance obligations and individual time commitments. In 2022, this will include:
- Cyber Security for Schools;
- Privacy for Schools; and
- Whistleblower training.
You will have 180 days (about 6 months) from the date of enrolment to complete the course. For those who may have already completed these units in CCI Learning Manager in Term One of 2022 this information will be transferred to Salt, and you will not need to complete the course again for three years.
Unless a specific legislative or regulatory requirement exists for a course to be undertaken annually (e.g., Responding to an Emergency/Emergency Management Planning). New employees will complete the full suite of compliance training online in their first year.
More information will be shared with local (school) platform administrators soon. This follows a recent process with schools to confirm the correct people to be added as an administrator for each school. In most cases this is the same person who was the local administrator for the CCI Learning Manager platform.
Change to Long Service Leave (LSL).
The decision of the Fair Work Commission (4 March 2022), following an application for variation to amend clause 3 of Appendix 3 of the Victorian Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2018 (VCEMEA 2018) removes the averaging of the long service leave (LSL) full-time equivalent (FTE) for employees with part-time service.
From Friday 4 March 2022, the arrangements are as follows:
- LSL will be administered in hours and not in weeks
- Employees will be paid at the ordinary rate of pay for any LSL taken
- FTE will no longer be averaged for the purpose of calculating LSL payments
- there is no change to accrual of LSL
Please refer to the CECV Circular 1 April 2022 regarding the administrative arrangements of the recent VCEMEA variation to Long Service Leave.
Additionally, the Variation LSL Administration Guide has been prepared to explain the changes to the VCEMEA 2018. The document can be accessed via the CEVN website under Staffing and ER / Long Service Leave / Key Documents.
New Child Safe Standards.
The Victorian Government has introduced new Child Safe Standards (CSS). These come into effect on 1 July 2022. Changes have been made to support national consistency and reflect the National Principles for a Child Safe Organisations that were developed following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Victorian Minister for Education has made Ministerial Order No 1359, which sets out how the 11 new Standards apply to all Victorian schools and school boarding premises.
Until 1 July 2022 schools and school boarding premises must continue to comply with the current Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order 870.
DOBCEL will support schools with the rollout of the new standards early next term. The CCYP have some preliminary resources available to gain an insight of the changes.
Commission for Children and Young People.
New Child Safe Standards Information Sheet
Outlines each new Standard and minimal compliance.
What’s new? Overview of the new Child Safe Standards
Details each new Standard and provides information on what is new or has changed and provides helpful resources for compliance.
What’s changing? Compare current and new Child Safe Standards
Further details of changes, resources and comparison to current Child Safe Standards.
Frequently asked questions
Covers questions relating to why changes were implemented, comparison to National Principles and compliance.
If you have any questions please contact;
Manager of Safeguarding & Standards,
Jacqui Righetti
jrighetti@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
M: 0409 114 268
Updated Vaccination Policy and Requirements.
The DOBCEL Vaccination Policy has been updated to reflect the updated pandemic orders (‘Orders’) to be more flexible and accommodate future Orders. The updated policy has been approved by Board pending the final ratification by Bishop Paul. Once ratified it will be published and shared with you via the Weekly Newsletter.
As the updated policy is broader to accommodate changing Orders, the DOBCEL Vaccination Requirements document and FAQ describe the current requirements regarding booster deadlines.
Additional OHS training sessions for Term 2-3, 2022.
CECV offers limited funded OHS training for Victorian Catholic schools. Due to increased demand, the following sessions have been added to the schedule in Term 2 and 3 in 2022:
Course | Mode | Date |
Online | Friday 6 May | |
Face to face# | Wednesday 1 June | |
Face to face# | Thurs 29 and Fri 30 September |
#Please note that the face-to-face sessions will be facilitated at the Catholic Leadership Centre in Melbourne.
The details for all OHS training sessions for 2022 can be found on the CECV website via OHS & WorkCover / Training and Communications.
Registrations for all sessions can be made via CEVN in the Online Professional Learning (OPL) application.
For further enquiries about the additional OHS training sessions, please contact
OHS Coordinator,
Grant Victor-Gordon
gvictor-gordon@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
M: 0410 261 338
Business Services Update
CDF Capital Investment Account.
Just a reminder as the audit period concludes, that the CDF has a Capital Investment Account product for DOBCEL schools. Funds should be transferred to the CDF Capital Investment Account from the school’s general account by 30th April each year.
This account is for the specific purpose of isolating school reserves for planned capital works.
Schools are able to transfer excess reserves to a CDF Capital Investment Account on the following conditions:
- Schools must have a masterplan in which capital works have been identified.
- Schools must have an active maintenance plan.
- Schools are only able to transfer operating surpluses, noting that it is not permitted to use recurrent grant income for capital projects.
- Schools are required to record funds held in the CDF Capital Investment account in their school bank account balances separately in the general ledger and in the Annual Financial Statement.
- Applications are to be completed before 30th April.
The Capital Investment Deposit Form will be signed by the school Principal and authorised by the Assistant Director, Business Services.
When a school commences a capital project it can apply to the CDF for a return of all or a portion of the account to fund the building works. Six months’ notice of withdrawal is required by the CDF.
Funds transferred to the Capital Investment Account will not be taken into consideration for General Recurrent Grant Special Factor claims or previously committed Supplementary Capital Fund support.
Should you wish to discuss this further, please contact your Education Consultant, Business Manager or the Assistant Director, Business Services.
Microsoft Licensing Renewal 2022 Update.
ALL Schools are asked to update their contact information, as it relates to Microsoft licensing, via the online form by Friday 8 April 2022.
The new agreement brings schools the best education pricing for Microsoft licensing, including discounts and education-specific promotions, features, and resources. The form asks for the details of the online service manager, which is the contact for your school, so Microsoft can process the license. This contact, though the nominated email address, will receive important activation information.
Actions Required:
- Principals are asked to note the above information and share with their IT leaders and administrators. All schools need to complete this form as Microsoft licensing covers key infrastructure within your school.
- Contact information related to Microsoft licensing must be updated via the online form by Friday 8 April 2022.
Contact/Enquiries.
For all enquiries, please contact Dan Ten, Technical Service Delivery Coordinator, at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) on 03 9267 0228 or licensing@macs.vic.edu.au.
For more details, please see the CECV Circular regarding the Microsoft Licensing Renewal 2022 Update via this link.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies
- Manager: Assurance and Risk – Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 April)
- Education Officer: Religious Education (2 positions) Ballarat Office or elsewhere by negotiation – ongoing positions at 1.0 FTE (closes 18 April)
- Manager: Organisation Development – upcoming opportunity to be advertised on DOBCEL website shortly
- Staff Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor – upcoming opportunity to be advertised on DOBCEL website shortly
- Communications Administration Officer – upcoming opportunity to be advertised on DOBCEL website shortly
School Vacancies
- Business Management, Legal Studies, Economics Teacher – Emmanuel College, Warrnambool – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 April)
- Spanish Teacher – St Mary’s School, Swan Hill – fixed-term at 0.4 FTE (closes 6 April)
- Humanities Teacher – Monivae College, Hamilton – fixed term position at 0.5 FTE (closes 6 April)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 8 April)
- STEAM/Digital Technology Teacher – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North – fixed-term position at 0.48 FTE (closes 11 April)
- Learning Support Officer – St Brigid’s School, Ballan – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 15 April)
- College Archivist – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 0.4 FTE (closes 20 April)
- ICT Director – Loreto College, Ballarat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 20 April)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Hamilton – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 22 April)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 25 April)
- Classroom Teacher - Siena Primary School, Lucas - Terms 3 & 4 (closes 9 May)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Alipius’ Parish School, Ballarat East (closes 30 June)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier, Ballarat East (closes 9 December)